# The fortune tellers looked so poor

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-hong-kong-fortune-tellers-poor
- Themes: uncertainty, scepticism, humour, fortune-telling
- Life situations: wanting to know the future, anxiety about outcomes

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

In Hong Kong Ajahn Brahm was taken to a street of fortune tellers who looked ill-dressed and out in the rain — if they cannot tell their own fortune, how can they tell yours?

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

they took me to this street where all the fortune tellers were and i looked at those fortune tellers and they were just so ill dressed poor and some of them were out in the rain and i realized my goodness you call that a fortune teller they certainly can't tell their own fortune how on earth can they tell yours

## Teaching point

Be sceptical of anyone who claims certainty about your future while their own life looks uncertain.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Shown a street of fortune tellers in Hong Kong, Ajahn Brahm noticed how poor they looked, some sitting in the rain. If they can't tell their own fortune, how can they tell yours? People ask him for lottery numbers too. Be wary of anyone selling certainty about the future. Live well in the present.

## Source

- [Uncertainty | Ajahn Brahm | 6 November 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jq9w7tD_k) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:48 to 5:15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jq9w7tD_k&t=288s